3-DIMENSIONAL GRAY-SCALE ULTRASONOGRAPHIC IMAGING OF THE CELIAC AXIS - PRELIMINARY-REPORT

The vessels of the celiac axis were evaluated in 16 healthy volunteers with three-dimensional gray scale ultrasonography. Sonographic volume data sets were obtained from both sagittal and transverse planes. The visualization of specific branches of the celiac artery (hepatic, spl enic, left gastric, gastroduodenal, left hepatic, right hepatic, right gastric) Mras evaluated, and each vessel was placed in one of:Tour ca tegories on the basis of the appearance of the specific vessel and ima ge clarity (not seen, poorly seen, adequately seen, well seen). Each v essel was evaluated on an initial two-dimensional scan and on a second scan using the entire volume to optimize and Further the designated v essel using rotating, referencing, and scrolling display capabilities. The ability to manipulate an entire volume improved visualization of the selected vessels as noted by an improved score. The proportion of vessels in the ''not seen'' and ''poorly seen'' categories decreased f rom the initial scan (62.5%) to the scan utilizing the entire volume ( 36%). Alternatively, the percentage of vessels in the ''adequately see n'' to ''well seen'' categories improved from 37.5% on the initial exa mination to 64% on the scans using the entire volume to depict vascula r anatomy. The optimal plane to image each vessel depended on the cour se of a specific vessel. For optimal imaging of all the selected vesse ls, both sagittal and transverse volume acquisitions and both sagittal and transverse planes were needed. Three-dimensional imaging provided a new imaging plane (coronal) that was useful in following and identi fying vessels, especially those vessels coursing in a right to left on . Vascular variants were identified by this technique in two of 16 sub jects. Vascular imaging was improved with three-dimensional ultrasonog raphy, and this imaging method may provide additional assistance in de cision making when evaluating abdominal vessels.